Chain



7 they may be readily assembled and dis.

Patented Feb. 16, 1 926.: i

UNITED J STATES,

PATENT oFr co s-lfr LAwnENcn E. BRILL, or oonumsusonro, nssrenon To THE JEFFREY MANUFAC- TUBING company, or ootn'nnns, camps oonrona'rron oF'oHIo.

Application filedOctobcr 8, 1924. Serial No. 742,480.

To all whom it may concern; a Be it known that I, LAWRENCE E. BRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin :and

State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Chains, of .whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention relates to and has for its object to provide a chain composed of links of such construction that assembled for adjustment of chain links, or for replacement and repair, by unskilled workmen, and without the use of tools.

The invention is here shown and described as a chain designed particularly for use with sprocket wheels in power transmission, but

it will be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative and in no sense restrictive,

as the invention may be applied to chains other than transmission chains, and still be within the range of my invention.

In order that the invention may be clear to those skilled in the art, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, one embodiment thereof, in which drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chain illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the separable coupling link of my improved chain.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the strap link adapted to use with the coupling links. Referring to the drawings by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, my improved chain consists of strap links joined by coupling links ofpeculiar and novel construction. The strap links are endless loops 1, formed of suit-- able material, as, for example, steel'bar stock of rectangular cross section, having bearing seats 2, preferably semi-cylindrical in form, at their ends.

Each coupling link consists of two similar, oppositely positioned side bars 3 from one end of each of which projects a pintle 4 adapted to extend through the adjacent strap link 1' and to bear upon the semicylindrical bearing seat 2. The pintles 4 may be formed integral with or secured to the side bars 3, and each is. provided with interlocking means, the example here shown being an interlocking head 5 adapted to pass through the opening of a strap link when chains, 7

the side bar 8 is turned at an angle thereto.

'At the end of each side bar ,3, opposite the pintle-4, is formed a substantially key-hole shaped aperture having a relatively narrow portionfi adapted to engage the pintle 4 of the opposite side bar, and a relatively wide portion 7 through whichthe heads 5 of said pintle 'may freely pass. I j

The interlocking heads 5 may be variously formed, but I find a convenient construction is to form them'with transverse extensions so as to give the substantially rectangular head shown in the drawings, lying substantiallycrosswise of the body of the side bar.

This :head, whenthe side bar is turned at an angle to the opening in the strap link, can be passed therethrough;then through the enlarged portion 7 of the aperture in the opposed side link, and finally longitudinal shifting of the links will bring the pintle into the narrow portion 6 of the side link aperture, with the head 5 interlockingon the outer wall ofthe side link.

To assemble the chain, the pintle 4 of one side bar is thrust through the opening of a strap link 1, and the pintle 4 of the op-- posite sidebar of that pair is thrust through the opening of another strap link 1. The

i heads of both pintles are then thrust through the wide portion 7 of the apertures in the opposite side bars 3, and said side bars are 7 moved longitudinally to cause said'pintles to enter the narrow portion 6 of their respective' apertures. The heads 5' of both pintles 4 will then engage the side bars 3 to prevent their lateral displacement, the body of the pintle taking its seat at the end of'the narrow portion 6 of the aperture.

To disassemble such a chain, the pintles 4 are moved longitudinally towards each other a suflicient distance to permit their heads 5 to be shifted laterally through the wide portion 7 of their respective apertures, and the operation, as above described, for assembling, is reversed.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific construction above de scribed, as these devices may be subject to wide modification without; departure from the spirit of my invention.

1-. In a chain, a link having an elongated transverse slot at each end forming a pintle hearing at each end ofthe link, and a link comprising a. pair of oppositely disposed similar side bars, a pintle rigidly secured to and projecting laterally from each side bar,

said intles havin their free ends ex )anded end slots of said first named link, when the side bars are held at an angle to the latter, each side bar having a substantially key-hole shaped aperture adapted to engage in its reduced portion the. projecting end of the pintle of the other side bar under the expanded portion of the said pintle for preventing relative lateral movement of said side bars.

2. In a chain, a-link having an elongated transverse slot with substantially parallel Walls and forming a pintle bearing at each end of the link, and a link comprising a pair of said first named link when the side bars are held at an angle to the latter, each side bar having a. substantially key-hole shaped aperture adapted to engage in its reduced portion the projecting end of the pintle of theioth-er side bar under the expanded portion of said pintle for preventing relative lateral movement of said side bars.

In testnnony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LAWVRENCE E. i BRILL. 

